The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-27
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JAILS FULL OF VERMIN.
LIFE IN THE CAMPS BETTER THAN
BEHIND THE BARS.


Covering - Nix Not Whipped TO
Death-Dr. Houk Accused by a
Female Prisoner of Being thu Father
of Her Child.
ATLANTA, GA, Sept. 26.-The G1gernor's
Court opened at 8 o'clock this morning
William w. Turner, the regular peniten-
tiary guard attached to the Principal
Keepers Office, was sworn. He has held
the Office eight years. He Thought the fe-
male convicts more degraded than the
males. He was well acquainted with the
jais Of the State. He thought there were
not twenty-five jais in the State that pro-
vided the convicts sufficient bed clothing in
cold weather. There were many jails that
were very unceanly, and in one he had seen
so much filth that even worms were crawl
Ing about the floors. In regard to the con-
victs who were brought from jails,
some were unable TO work on ac-
count Of having contracted diseases The
convicts generally preferred the camps to
the jails 1t was stated that frequently con-
victs who were discharged hire out to the
lessees to work afterwards. There were
several cases where, at the coal mine, con-
victs who had become expert miners had
continued their work after their sentence
expired. The convicts were better treated
and were in better health than the average
laborers. There were about seventy-five
men at Bondurant a Joplin's camp,
but he was not acquainted with their health
further than what was seen by the
reports. 1t was frequently the case that
convicts were put to work without exanin-
alton by a physician. 1t used TO be con-
stantly the case, but since DR.. Westmore-
land assumed charge a rule was enforced
requiring an examination and thorough
washing to be given the men. He thought
that there had been a good many bastard
children born in the camps. Susannah Gil-
bert, it was said, had given birth TO six.
NIX NOT WHIPPED TO DEATH.
G. ii. Williams, superintendent of the
Oldtown camp, was sworn. He had been
superintendent of the camps at Oldtown for
the past ten years In regard to the case
of Ben Nix, who died at the camps in 1885,
the witness said that he was in debilitated
state of health when he was brought here
His death was not caused by whipping. He
was whipped lightly about three weeks be-
fore his DEATH but the punishment did not
kill him. Laura Heard gave birth to child
while in the camp, and she accused DR..
Houk of being the father of it. He had not
investigated the case, because it was not bis
duty to do so.
Dir. Houk had said the woman was af-
dicted with dropsy, and he was not aware
that she was pregnant. After discovering
the state of affairs he took precautions to
prevent a similar occurrence In his opin-
ion the camps were in as good condition as
any in the State. The sanitary regulations
were good and the convicts were well fed.
j. A. Grubbs was sworn. He was guard
at Camp Bingham, on the Georgia Midland
road He knew Bill Slaughter to be an un.
ruly convict, but good worker. Slaughter
and Burnett had fight about three weeks
before they were whipped From that time
his conduct became worse, and it became
necessary to give him whipping, as he
was unmanageable. Slaughter had fire.
quently boasted that ''No white man should
whip him."
number Of guards testified substan-
TALLY on the some line.
The report Of G. G. Bingham, who was
superintendent of Camp Bingham, was
read, showing the cause Of the whipping Of
each convict referred TO and the offense for
which the punishment was inflicted.
sc0RvY CASES.
w. B. Lowe was next introduced. He was
one of the original lessees under the act of
1875 The lease whereby Bondurant 6c
Joplin assumed control of certain convicts
was read in response to question from Mr..
Cox as to whether he was aware of the re-
ported existence of scurvy at the camps
near Augusta. Mr.. Lowe said that the first
intimation of the disease existing came
from DR.. Westmoreland, and that they i'm
medistely went down TO investigate the
state of affairs. They found about seven cases
of sickness, and they were affected with
swollen legs. All those sick were soon up
again and at work In regard to maltreat-
ments of convicts Mr. Lowe said be knew
nothing He had always instructed the
.fax.1 20. -
physician. Sometimes it had been great
deal of trouble TO secure good superintend-
ents, but they had always tried to
get those best fitted for the posi-
tion. IL was always his desire to bo
improving the camps and making changes
whereby their condition could be improved.
In answer to a question in regard to work
being carried on at the Cedartown camps
on Sunday, he said the work that was done
on Sunday was light and necessary. II con-
sisted in unloading coal into the furnaces to
keep the fires up
THE GREssToN CAMP.
At Gresston the conyicts were employed
in saw milling and building tram roads.
The work was healthy, and he knew of no
better employment for convicts than this
At the afternoon session Mr.. loves exc
animation was continued. He testified az
TO the organization of his camps, the pay
and discipline of his force, etc. There was
an original agreement between the menu
bers of his company, of which he made q
written memorandum.
The counsel for the State asked for this
paper.
This brought about another long argu-
ment over the production Of papers.
At its conclusion Mr.. Cox, counsel for
Mr.. Lowe, said under the ruling of the
court, they were not compelled TO produce
any papers, but would take this demand
under advisement till tomorrow, when it
was probable he would voluntarily produce
the paper. This was agreed TO, and the
hearing was adjourned TO o o'clock to-mors
row morning.